June 5

I went to the lake today to play some golf.  To give an idea of the wind today...I was on the 18th fairway and found a ball lying in plain view.  There were no other golfers on the 18th so I picked up the ball thinking it had fallen out of someone's cart.  Along the trail comes another golfer.  He had lost his ball.  The ball I had picked up belonged to him.  He had teed off on hole number 15 and the ball had drifted over to 18!

This week will be another week of playing ball.  Plus 50 plays on Monday.  Plus 60 plays on Tuesday.  The tournament team plays on Wednesday.  On Thursday, I am on my way to Edmonton to play in a plus 60 tournament being held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Then the trick will be to get back in time for the Garth Brooks concert on Sunday night.

May Principal’s Message,

            When I was in my first year of university, I handed in my first essay and received a devastating 48 %.  The professor had a brief meeting with me and said, “Maybe university isn’t your thing.”  He didn’t know that I was carrying the banner for my family.  I was the first one in a blue collar family with parents who had very little education and even less money.  I was crushed, disappointed, and faced with a monumental decision.  Should I become bitter and quit or should I become better and win.  I chose the latter.       

            What quality allows us to succeed in spite of adversity such as injustice, violence, and socio economic background?  There are some who face much greater challenges such as parental neglect, abuse, physical handicaps, and mental illness.  I believe the quality we need to beat all odds is resiliency.  One way to define resiliency is doing better than should be expected.  Resilient children beat the odds. According to research cited by Thomas Lickona, author of Character Matters, resilient children overcome obstacles in their life by exhibiting strength in social competence, problem solving skills, a sense of identity, and hope for the future.  When resilient children were asked how they acquired their strengths, they pointed to inspiring role models – particularly teachers.

            Some may argue that children are born resilient, but there is a body of evidence that indicates resilience can be learned.  At Prairie View School, we have a Social Skills for Success program that teaches students social competencies such as listening, responding to a request, ignoring distractions, self control, following directions, accepting consequences, and problem solving.  We try to develop a sense of positive identity by providing opportunities for children to become involved in drama, athletics, academics, visual arts, and other clubs.  Furthermore, we try to send the message: you are a good person with gifts, talents, and abilities that can be used to make the world a better place.

Our motto of C.A.R.E. (Courtesy, Appreciation, Respect, and Enthusiasm) emphasizes the common identity we aspire toward. 

            On the issue of hope for the future, Dr. Robert Brooks, child psychologist, offers some advice on building resilience and hope in children.  He advises that we teach children to distinguish the things they can control and the things they cannot control.  Resilient children should learn how to think before they act rather than acting on impulse.  They must also know that mistakes are an opportunity to learn.  Moreover, children must know their strengths and build upon them.  Likewise, they should acknowledge their weaknesses, but not dwell on them.  Finally, resilient children should know how to seek assistance from others in a comfortable way.

             I heard a little known allegory that tells of two fishermen who discovered a child floating face down in the water just below a bridge.  The older fisherman took the child on board and resuscitated him.  Immediately, they discovered another drowning child and a third so they saved the second and third children.  The younger fisherman spotted a fourth child floating face down, but the old fisherman was heading for shore.  The young fisherman said, “Aren’t you going to save him?”

            The old fisherman replied, “Not right now because I am going to go up and find out who is throwing children off the bridge.”

            In the same way, teaching children to be resilient is as important as removing the attacking the challenges faced by children in today’s society.  I know there are government programs to eliminate child poverty, mental health programs, task forces dealing with gangs, anti-bullying campaigns, and a many other worthwhile efforts, but until all the world’s problems have been solved the school, home, and community must teach children to be resilient.  By fostering caring relationships and providing wise counsel, we can keep even the most challenged children “out of the water”.